Spanish Silver-Gilt Cross Pendant

With blue champlevé enamel, depicting scenes of the life of Prophet Elijah: on the bottom right Elijah rolling up his mantle and dividing the waters of the Jordan, in front of his disciple Elisha; on the bottom left Elijah watched over by the Angel; on the top right Elijah ascending to heaven on a Chariot of Fire, assisted by the hand of God; on the left Elijah, covered by his mantle, fed by ravens; frame with blue enamel over gilded pseudo-vegetal decorations. 585 grams, 14.3 cm



Acquired from Chris Martin-Zakheim, Iconastas, 5 Piccadilly Arcade, London SW1. From the private collection of a West London, UK, gentleman, formed since the early 2000s.

The icon represents the Ascension of the prophet Elijah and other scenes from his life. Elijah is ascending to heaven in a fiery chariot drawn by horses, leaving his mantle to his disciple Elisha, symbolising the transmission of his prophetic mission. Among the great figures of the Bible, the prophet Elijah was one of the most venerated figures in Orthodoxy.

Inscribed to the inner face in an italic hand 'Love and [l]ive happily'. 2.17 grams, 19.85 mm overall, 17.49 mm internal diameter (approximate size British N 1/2, USA 6 3/4, Europe 14.35, Japan 13)



From a UK collection formed in the 1980s. Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman.

Card slipcase with printed engraving of an urn amid rustic ruins with legend 'Vedute di Roma disegnate ed incise da Giambattista Piranesi Architetto Vi Iano'; card-mounted prints comprising: church tower and square 'Roma La Chiesa di Santi Giovanni e Paolo / Disignato di Antonio Carbonati'and with handwritten dedication above 'To Mr. John Alexis Alexander With my best wishes, Rome 16.xii.1952 S[alvatore] Rebecchini, Mayor of Rome'; Trevi fountain with legend 'Veduta della Fontana di Trevi anticamente detta l'Acqua Veraine'; section of wall and tower with legend 'Veduta del lato posteriore del Mauseleo di Cecilia Metella....'; Colosseum with legend 'Veduta dell' Amfiteatro Flavio detto il Colosseo....'; prospect of the Vatican and foreground with egend 'Veduta dell'insigne Basilica Vaticana coll'ampio Portico e Piazza Adjacente...'; view of the fountain and monument in the Piaza navona with legend 'Veduta di Piazza navonasopre le rovine del Circo Aganate'; ruined temple with legend 'Veduta del Tempio detto della Concordia'; Arch of Constantine with legend 'Veduta dell'Arco di Costantino'; interior of St.Peter's basilca with legend 'Veduta interna della Basilica di S.Petro in Vaticano'; church of Santa maria with legend 'Veduta della Facciata di dietro della Basilica di S. Maria Maggiore'; bridge and castle with legend 'Veduta del Ponte e Castello Sant'Angelo'. 710 grams total, 49.5 x 35 cm



Acquired on the UK art market. Property of a Harwich, UK, collector.